by Lorene Oikawa Lights and decorations for Christmas and Chanukah are going up. It’s starting to look more festive. Everyone is looking for some light and hope. We have been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and we must continue to take precautions with news of the latest Omicron variant. In BC, we are still dealing...Continue reading
National Association of Japanese Canadians is sharing this call out for stories of Japanese Canadians who lived in Surrey, British Columbia before 1942. NAJC president Lorene Oikawa, a life-long resident of Surrey, who has been working to bring more stories to light encourages people to share their stories. “For too long, Japanese Canadians have been...Continue reading
As Japanese Canadians we are reminded that on November 9th, 1945, Canada ratified the Charter of the United Nations adopted earlier that year in San Francisco. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King was a signatory to the charter whilst his government exiled its own citizens, most born in Canada, to Japan. The injustices endured by...Continue reading
LEGACIES – The Nature of David Suzuki THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021 Pacific 5:30 PM | Mountain 6:30 PM | Central 7:30 PM | Eastern 8:30 PM REGISTRATION https://bit.ly/3dwa1RX Dear Friends, To mark the eve of United Nations Human Rights Day, we look back over 20 years to this documentary of David Suzuki, award-winning geneticist, best-selling...
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS OF INTEREST OPEN NOW! Japanese Canadian artists and Japanese Artists living in Canada NAJC GEI : Art Symposium Sept 16-18, 2022 The first national multi-day symposium of Japanese Canadian artists and Japanese artists living in Canada will take place in Greater Victoria September 16-18, 2022. Marking the 80th anniversary of the Japanese...
39th Japanese Film Festival – Free Online Screenings One of the Canadian Film Institute’s longest-running annual festivals, the Japanese Film Festival, has, for almost four decades, showcased the best in contemporary filmmaking in Japan. Despite the continued challenges to hosting live screenings, we are proud to continue this cinematic tradition once again this year online for...Continue reading
On November 11, as you reflect on the contributions of all those who served for Canada, please keep in mind Indigenous peoples and racialized people who also served. Their stories are often not shared. NAJC and others will be laying wreaths at the Remembrance Day Ceremonies at the Japanese Canadian cenotaph in Stanley Park, Vancouver....Continue reading
by Lorene Oikawa People have started posting photos of matsutake (pine mushrooms). Just looking at the photos brings back memories of time spent with my grandparents in Slocan. My grandfather would go out into the mountains to his secret place and gather matsutake. My obaachan (grandmother) would sort the mushrooms and clean them. She would...Continue reading
On November 19, NAJC is hosting free film screenings part of the Canadian Labour International Film Festival (CLiFF). For 13 years, CLiFF has presented films about workers from around the world. Our annual participation in this film festival continues this year. We will be showing four films for free. Register and get your tickets for...